This doesn't exactly fall into the cookware category but I'm sure someone will be able to help me.

I have a plastic Tupperware bowl that has a horrible odor (bad enough to make you vomit). I accidently left it sitting in my bedroom for a few weeks after eating something out of it. I have no idea what food had been in it because when I found it, it looked clean but I knew it wasn't. I'm thinking that pudding had been in there but I just can't remember.

Anyway, I guess the food/smell was absorbed by the plastic (or something) because that smell will not come out. Does anyone know of a way to get the smell out? I thought about using Clorox/bleach but I don't know if that will damage it. I tried soaking it in a lot of soapy water and also using vinegar. I haven't tried a lemon, but then I don't have any and I'm not going to the store anytime soon.

Does anyone have any ideas? I really don't want to throw the bowl away as no one makes bowls like this anymore. It's gotta be at least 20 years old.

Have you tried making a bicarb of soda paste and rubbing all the interior surfaces? I have very little tupperware, so I'm not sure what would work. I would think that being 20 years old and presumably used quite a lot, the interior might be a little compromised, which would make using bleach a bit problematic.

I'm sure that there will be a number of people who have had lots of experience with Tupperware, and may know of a magic solution for your problem!

Perhaps you could do a search for a Tupperware site and there would be a recommendation for 'deep cleaning'?

I have never tried this myself, but I have heard it works although I do not know to what degree. Take a few sheets of newspaper and crumple them up and put in the container with the lid on. Let it sit for about 3 days. The newspaper is supposed to absorb the oder. It is worth a shot at least.

There is a product at those "As Seen on TV" stores called a Deodorock. I once burned garlic in my microwave creating the most hideous odor throughout the house for weeks. NOTHING would remove the odor until my MIL gave me one of those rocks. It worked like a charm. Hope you can find it.

__________________You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. Robin Williams Alix

Bleach shouldn't hurt it. When I sold Tupperware, we were told to put it upside down in the grass overnight. With so many dogs running loose, I was afraid it would be gone so I've never tried it, but my manager swore by it!